Turbaned Head; verso: blank page c. 19th century

Editor: This sketch, "Turbaned Head" by Edward Burne-Jones, showcases the artist's mastery with pencil. It feels so delicate, almost ethereal. What do you see in the composition, particularly in the way Burne-Jones renders the fabric? Curator: The hatching and cross-hatching are exquisite, wouldn’t you agree? Notice how the artist uses the direction of the lines to define form and create a sense of volume. The varying densities of the pencil strokes generate a subtle play of light and shadow. It is a demonstration of how line alone can suggest texture. Editor: So, it's the structural use of the pencil strokes themselves that creates the effect? Curator: Precisely. The formal qualities of the drawing—the lines, the tones, the composition—are what convey its expressive power. We need not look beyond the surface to appreciate its sophisticated rendering. Editor: I see it now. Thanks, that's a great way to look at it!